Give the perfect gift for your favorite ocean lover and explorer. The best time to see whitetip reef sharks in the Cayman Islands is from May to August. From these locations, I was able to dive the west end and also the North Wall. Best time to dive When to dive in the Cayman Islands entirely depends on your own personal preferences. Situated not far from the north point on Grand Cayman, Ghost Mountain is probably named for the behemoth mushroom-like pinnacle that suddenly emerges from the blue as divers near it. Live a life others only dream about. Turtles munched on big sponges with no worries about divers hanging about. 10 Best Dive Destinations in the Caribbean Best diving in the Caribbean 10 Best Dive Destinations in the Caribbean Cecily Russell 25 February, 2022 Vast blue waters, plummeting wall dives and pelagic life are just a few reasons why you'll find some of the world's best diving in the Caribbean. Choose your design and prove your PADI certified diver status across the world with a recycled plastic card, eCard or both. Grand Cayman is a beautiful dive destination with many options for accommodations and for diving. If you have time, you should also take a flight to Little Cayman from Grand Cayman, and dive at Bloody Bay Wall. Interested in diving the Cayman Islands? They pickup from the Westin, Ritz and Kimpton Seafire beaches for their West Dives, which is one of their standout features. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and June when the hotel rates drop. Topside, the community is expanding with ongoing construction. Thus, you can keep going back and still discover new sites. That's is how we pay ourselves. Take your camera and get a snap with one of the abandoned bicycles that have also found a home here. Continue with Recommended Cookies. If the forecast looks good, they should consider taking a last-minute trip to Grand Cayman if they also spot an attractive discount. The wreck was specifically set up for safe penetration, giving divers many interior rooms to explore. With virtually no currents and outstanding underwater visibility, Cayman has amazing wall dives, coral reefs and wrecks for you to explore and discover. Though scuba diving in the Cayman Islands is mostly known for close encounters with stingrays, it has much more to offer. From April to October water temperature are at least 27 o C (81 o F) and can . Divers in the Caymans visit Kittiwake for the wreck itself. Nature lovers are lured to diverse hiking trails, caves, and a variety of flora and fauna around the island. I have worked in the corporate world and had little time for adventure. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman. It was quite crowded with dive and snorkel boats when we got there, but it was no big deal once we got in the water. Now large groups of southern stingrays are lurking around daily. You can dive along this wall and explore the different entrances. It is Batabano, the countrys biggest festival, which is scheduled for early May each year. Choose from private or single rates, we will find you the best possible option to help you enjoy the famous Cayman Stingray City. The famous diver and explorer Jacques Cousteau said that Bloody Bay Wall is one of the top dive sites in the world. Instagram, My Ideas Some resorts offer "Hurricane protection". Situated on a wide beach on the island's West End, the property offers 40 air-conditioned rooms (renovated in late 2015 and featuring soothing Caribbean . Although this is a wall dive, the cut in the sites name comes from the swim-through many divers use upon descent. For deep divers, we highly suggest you explore the elephant-ear sponge laden reef of the Orange Canyon or go cave diving in Bonnies Arch. Trinity Caves is one Cayman dive site that never disappoints. There is also a dive shop and restaurant. During the day rays, turtles, the occasional barracuda and plenty of reef fish mean theres a lot to keep divers engaged. Most dive operators will take you there. The water depth here is around 18-meters. This site is a firm favorite among local dive masters, most likely because of the intriguing geological features but there is plenty of marine life here too. We dived 3 days in February 2014, and they were all excellent and memorable dives. 6. The most interesting topside activities for us were exploring the island in a rental car and driving on the left side of the road. Resident Nassau groupers often keep divers company and if you look closely, you may be rewarded with seahorses and lettuce-leaf slugs. 4. There is shopping, bars to hang out in, and live music. There's much to discover beyond theme parks in this Southeastern state. The entire experience is about 3 hours long from the time we pick you up from your hotel or condo along Seven Mile Beach to drop off. The Cayman Turtle Farm is one of the most visited land attractions on the island.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_1',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_2',121,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1'); .large-mobile-banner-1-multi-121{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. There is decent shore diving from their dock. Once you decide which route you want to go, it's time to get in the water! April is an especially good choice because it has the warmest weather of the entire five-month dry season. Grandview Condominiums are located on the south end of 7 Mile Beach in George Town on the scuba diving island of Grand Cayman. Although the rays who made this site their home permanently have moved on, there is still a good chance of spotting them here. There are lots of options for great photography and for posing for memorable photos, such as by the Kittiwake sign, swimming by the prop, or pretending to steer the helm on the bridge. Seahorses - While the Cayman Islands are best known for their stunning coral reefs and diverse marine life, don't forget about the amazing small critters that call these waters home . Wreck of the Oro Verde is located in Grand Cayman. They have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water safely. Wakatobi Dive Resort, a private island south of Sulawesi, understands thisand that shooters trek to this country, one of the most biodiverse hotspots on the planet, to capture images of every critter possible. The dive boat did make the excursion across to Little Cayman's Bloody Bay wall one day which is very achievable from Cayman Brac. Everything here is very low key and there is a small local population. Roberts Wall is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Cheeseburger Reef is located in George Town, Grand Cayman. A huge pinnacle branches out, creating a corridor-like passageway that is used by large pelagics cruising up from the abyss. Best Times To Visit Cayman Islands The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and June when the hotel rates drop. Penetration can be done in this wreck courtesy from its numerous entry and exit points that were made before it was intentionally sunk to become an artificial reef. Black groupers, sergeant majors, yellowtail snapper, and moray eels are just a few of the species you can expect to see. // ]]>, Call us today at+1-310-915-6677 or email us info@bluewaterdivetravel.com. I am Dan, this site is my blog where I document my research on the best diving spots in the world. Our team will meet you at the airport and fast-track you through. Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Flamingo tongues can be found on the sea fans, while arrow crabs, bristle worms, and long-spined sea urchins hide in the cracks and grooves. I have traveled to the Cayman islands many times. Kittiwake Shipwreck and diver in Grand Cayman - photo from Canva. (Closed Circuit Rebreathers/CCR) allows you to massively extend your dive time. Often you can see massive tarpons, barracudas, and schools of silversides. . Aside from corals, barrel sponges are sprawling in this vibrant reef that is also filled with tropical reef fish like groupers, butterflyfish, angelfish, moray eels and lionfish which is believed to be an invasive species. The best part about the dive is the . The winter and early spring months are the most popular time in the Cayman Islands. But the main reason for diving here are the sharks, especially hammerheads. Each time has been a wonderful underwater adventure. There are actually around two dozen dive sites within the bay, with Bloody Bay Wall top of the list. We highly advise you ask your local dive shop on the dos and donts in diving a particular dive site. It exceeds six inches in August and jumps again to more than eight inches in September and October. Greenhouse is a nice medium-depth reef dive with plenty of grooves and gullies to explore. Cayman Islands has an average water temperature ranging from 26 29C (78 84F). All levels of divers can enjoy the site as there is plenty to see at shallow depths or at deeper parts. Devilishly deep drop-offs, wicked wreck dives and some of the coolest coral in the Caribbean have made the Cayman Islands a world-class dive destination. The waters here are 15 to 25 meters deep. If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. Instead, they pass through the vicinity and bring heavy rains and wind to the island. For water sports lovers, there are great spots for snorkeling including night snorkeling with bioluminescence, options to go sailing or on a catamaran cruise. It was named after the famous free-diver Penny Ventura. #6 inBest Cheap Destination Wedding Locations, #4 inBest Places to Visit in January 2023. From April to October water temperature are at least 27 o C (81 o F) and can reach over 30 o C (85 o F). Jackson's Bight- Located also in the Bloody Bay Marine Park, it does not fail to provide scuba divers with an amazing dive. Eels, rays, sharks, and turtles are frequently seen. I am a scuba diving newbie, a Project Manager by profession, and an entrepreneur at heart. Both of these sites are accessible from shore. In February, the cost is roughly $1,044 round trip . Cayman Brac offered multiple relaxed dive spots on reefs all along the edge of the island. December and July are good times for families because children are out of school for the holidays and summer. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country in Western Asia located at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula in the Persian Gulf. Occasionally, a nurse shark rest on the sand. Corals and sponges are plentiful. Sidetrip: Grand Cayman is the biggest island and it is where most accommodations and restaurants are located. While Grand Cayman receives the most publicity and visitors, all three Cayman Islands - Cayman Brac and Little Cayman being the other two -- offer outstanding scuba diving. So, either way, the experience is well worth the money. This is an especiallygreat time to visit clear, calm waters are perfect for snorkeling, diving, sailing and fishing. As a photographer, I never lacked for subjects both wide angle and macro and anything in between. If you are into grottos or swim-throughs, then you must head out to the west side of Grand Cayman and explore the three long tunnel swim-throughs of the Trinity Caves. There is a reason you won't find under a 5-star review for Silver Thatch, they are the best. DIVEMASTER AND INSTRUCTOR TRAINING SPECIALTY AND TECHNICAL COURSE KIDS DISABLED DIVERS SAFETY The Cayman Islands boasts state-of-the-art medical facilities including a hyperbaric chamber (located on Grand Cayman) and, in the event of an emergency, quality care can be provided in minutes. If you plan to do some land-based explorations on your trip, you'll have to choose between the busier warmer months (like April and November) or the cooler, but generally cheaper, months in between. The Caymans have one major event that also may impact the best times to go there. We understand that diving the best Grand Cayman Dives is the primary goal of your Grand Cayman Dive vacation. Away from the reef, divers can look around the LCM David Nicholson wreck. We rarely boast about our service but we believe it's what sets us apart and makes us truly original, so please forgive this moment of unabashed self-promotion. You may see hammerhead sharks if you are lucky. If you don't want to sacrifice weather for a break on hotel prices, plan a trip for the region's dry season, which runs from November to April. The 6 Best Dive Sites in the Cayman Islands Cecily Russell 3 April, 2022 The trio of Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory situated in the western Caribbean Sea. Theyre not timid and as they surround you, these rays seem happy to receive a gentle stroke or two. ScubaDiveGeek.com is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Below are our recommendations for the best months to dive in 2. I am the father of the best two children in the world and husband to the most patient woman on this planet. Divers of all levels can explore the engines, pistons, and pieces of the wreck that are scattered at 18m/60ft. We did not make it to Stingray city, but did get to the other must do dive in Grand Cayman - the USS Kittiwake, a submarine rescue vessel. Despite being small measuring only 16 x 1.6 kilometers (10 x 1 mile), tourism is booming and tourism facilities are sprawling especially in South Town. However, the Cayman Islands can be impacted by hurricanes primarily between June and November. Sharks and turtles are frequent visitors as are snappers, groupers, and grunts. If you like diving in caves and grottos, Trinity Caves on Grand Caymans west side is the site for you. Here youll find more than 50 dives sites including the famous Bloody Bay. However, there are large coral canyons that provide exciting swim-throughs for divers. Having a less touristic crowd, Cayman Brac still has several tourism facilities like Cayman Brac Dive Resorts that are scattered along its narrow coast. The course includes a 2-hour pool and theory session, and an . Hop to the other islands by hiring a private boat operator, or better yet, arrange for a liveaboard tour and explore as many Cayman Islands diving sites as you can. . Grand Cayman Monthly Weather: Rain, Temperatures, Grand Cayman Vacation Tips: Hotels, Attractions, Weather, Cayman Islands overnight visitor statistics; Caribeez.com.